Asthma Fact Sheet

What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition where the lungs become inflamed and swell, tightening airway passages. Inflammation is usually caused by floating particulate. It can also be caused by emotional stress, exercise, and cold air.

15 to 16 million Americans suffer from asthma, which is about 6% of the population.

Asthma is especially prevalent in children. Five million children have asthma, or about 11% of children.

Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism and pediatric hospital admission. There are about 10 million missed school days every year due to asthma.

About 5,600 people die every year as a result of asthma.

Asthma has developed in the human race in just the last 100 years, and is still a rarity in many developing countries (where indoor air quality is not yet a major health problem).

Asthma Symptoms
Restlessness, insomnia, tightness in chest, mild to moderate shortness of breath, wheezing, whistling sound while breathing, coughing accompanied by phlegm.